Dual-radio gaming headset

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine having an audio channel outputting game sound and an audio channel intaking microphone sound and outputing chat sound is coupled with a headset having earpieces and a microphone and a Bluetooth transceiver in the headset for sending and receiving the microphone and chat sounds. A radio receiver or wired connection in the headset receives the game sounds. Circuitry in the headset is connected between the transceiver and receiver for mixing the microphone, chat, and game sounds and feeding them all to the earpieces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a headset used in the field of computergames played on personal computers or gaming consoles and, inparticular, to multi-player games which are played over a local areanetwork or the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical computer game console, such as the Microsoft Xbox™ or SonyPlayStation™, provides three primary sources of sound. The first is thegame audio. The second is the chat voices of other players communicatingin multiplayer games that allow two or more players to compete againsteach other via a local network or over the Internet. The third is thevoice of the player wearing the headset and speaking into a microphoneattached to the headset. The game sounds and chat sounds are separatelyadjustable so the sounds of game and chat can be balanced against eachother.

On a PlayStation™ game console, the chat and microphone sounds aretransmitted via a Bluetooth radio signal. This requires that the playerwear a Bluetooth ear piece, similar to what is commonly used forhands-free communication with a mobile phone. When wearing thisBluetooth ear piece, the player's ear is blocked from hearing the gamesound emanating from the speakers connected to the game console. Thisinhibits enjoyment of the game by making it difficult to hear the gamein full stereo or surround sound. In addition, wearing the Bluetooth earpiece interferes with the use of a stereo headset to reproduce the gamesound from the console. Therefore, the player is faced with a choice ofeither hearing only the game while wearing the headset or hearing theonline chat sound with the ear piece, and listening to the game soundemanating from speakers with the other ear that is not covered by theear piece.

On an Xbox™ game console, the online chat signal is fed to the headsetvia a cable between the Xbox™ controller and a so-called “communicator”headset that is simply a microphone connected to a speaker cup that sitsover one ear. Some stereo gaming headsets provide a method of connectingthis cable to the headset such that the sound from the online chat iscombined with the game sound, allowing the player to hear both at thesame time. This method, however, ties the headset to the controllerdevice via the cable that to some degree defeats the purpose of using awireless headset to hear the game sound from the console. Thus, whenusing the connection cable between the headset and controller, the wireinterferes with the unencumbered playing style expected of a headsetwireless system.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,090 describes a method for integrating the sound ofa personal music player and a mobile phone when using a headset or earbuds. In order to switch between the two sources of sound, it isnecessary to remove the headset. When used with a mobile phone, the usermay communicate with the mobile phone while wearing headphones.

US published application US 2008/0280654 describes a headphone apparatusthat includes an FM radio for receiving sound and a Bluetooth radio forwireless communication, along with a means of controlling the headsetvia a wireless connection to an external control unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,475 describes an earphone-microphone combinationthat allows a user to simultaneously use both a mobile phone and a radioreceiving set with a common earphone-microphone combination. A switchingdevice selects between the radio and the mobile phone. Thisearphone-microphone combination with a switching mechanism eliminatesthe need for the user to carry separate headsets for listening to aradio and speaking on the mobile phone. Instead, the user can use both amobile phone and a radio simultaneously, with a commonearphone-microphone combination. Manual switching is required to switchbetween sound sources and the radio source is not summed with the phonesource, but rather the use of one precludes the use of the other. Aphone call cannot be answered while simultaneously listening to the gameaudio via the second radio in the headset.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,267 and published application 2002/0067825 bothdescribe a headset with an integrated commercial radio receiver andwireless telephone device that incorporates a microphone for speaking ona wireless telephone call and a method of selecting between the two suchthat the user can listen to a radio broadcast or conduct a wirelesstelephone call. The inventions essentially describe the integratedfunctionality of radio tuner and a wireless telephone unit withoutrequiring the user to switch between the two devices. These inventionsdiffer from the current invention in that they are limited to the use ofan AM/FM radio combined with a cordless phone, whereas the currentinvention is designed to improve communication during game play byintegrating a Bluetooth radio for voice communication with a secondradio for game communication.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,115 describes a headset that incorporates a radiofor receiving wireless phone calls and wireless audio programming, sothe user may enjoy the wireless audio programming without missing aphone call. The phone call originates from a wireless base unit and isnot specified as being Bluetooth enabled. This invention thereforediffers from the current invention in that it does not specify twoseparate radios, one being of the Bluetooth standard used for voicecommunication and another of a proprietary standard used for listeningto the game sound.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved dual radio gaming headset.

Another object is the provision of such an improved dual radio gamingheadset that overcomes the above-given disadvantages.

Another object is to integrate the ability to communicate via game playwhile still hearing the game audio, thus providing a method of chattingwith online players, chatting via a mobile phone and listening tostreaming music, all while listening to the game sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gaming machine having an audio channel outputting game sound and anaudio channel intaking microphone sound and outputing chat sound iscoupled according to the invention with a headset having earpieces and amicrophone and a Bluetooth transceiver in the headset for sending andreceiving the microphone and chat sounds. A radio receiver or wiredconnection in the headset receives the game sounds. Circuitry in theheadset is connected between the transceiver and receiver for mixing themicrophone, chat, and game sounds and feeding them all to the earpieces.

The instant invention thus provides a means for wireless delivery ofchat and microphone signals and can eliminate the need for a wiredconnection on an Xbox™ controller. Furthermore the invention integratesthe Bluetooth radio in a gaming headset to combine the sound of game andchat on the PlayStation™ game console without the need for wires orother means to carry the chat and microphone signals. The result is anenhanced audio experience in a multiplayer game by providing a wirelesschat and microphone connection to both the Xbox™ and PlayStation™ gameconsoles via a Bluetooth radio that is combined with the normal wirelessgame signal in the headset. On an Xbox™ game console, this inventioneliminates the wire connection between the headset and Xbox™ controllerto connect the chat signals between these devices. On both the Xbox™ andPlayStation™ game consoles, this invention combines the game and chatsignals via two radios to provide a completely wireless experience.

Another benefit of this invention is the ability for the Bluetooth radioused for chat and microphone communication to also be used forcommunicating with a mobile phone and Bluetooth audio streaming device,such as a digital audio player that is Bluetooth enabled. Thisadditional functionality allows the player to make and receive phonecalls, and listen to music, while playing the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become morereadily apparent from the following description, reference being made tothe accompanying drawing where the terms “PlayStation” and “Xbox” aretrademarks of Sony Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, respectively.In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating two radio modules in a headsetcommunicating with a PlayStation™ game console, with the Bluetooth radiobeing used for chat and microphone communication directly with theBluetooth radio built into the PlayStation™;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating two radio modules in a headsetcommunicating with an Xbox™ game console, with the Bluetooth radio beingused for chat and microphone communication with a Bluetooth radioconnected to the Xbox™ wireless controller;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are illustrations of the Bluetooth adapter for theXbox™ controller, FIGS. 3A and 3B showing the adapter and FIG. 3Cshowing how it connects to the Xbox™ controller; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the Bluetooth radio communicatingwith a PlayStation™ game console, a mobile phone and a Bluetooth enableddigital music player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention improves the experience of using a wireless gamingheadset while communicating online with other players. A typicalembodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 that shows thesignal flow of microphone, chat and game sounds 2, 4, and 8 between awireless gaming headset 5 having two earpieces 9 and a PlayStation™ gameconsole 3. Although in the embodiments described herein, the game audio8 is transmitted via a wireless connection, in some embodiments the gameaudio 8 may be connected via a wire and the Bluetooth radio may be theonly radio used in this device for the microphone sound 2 and chat sound4. It is therefore an essential aspect of this invention that there aretwo different audio sources, one being game audio 8 and the other beingvoice communication audio 2 and 4, and the voice communication istransmitted and received via Bluetooth as described herein.

In FIG. 1 a Bluetooth radio transceiver 1 is provided in the headset 5.A headset microphone 14 is connected to the input of this Bluetoothradio 1 and the voice signal 2 from the microphone is wirelesslytransmitted via the Bluetooth radio 1 to the built-in Bluetooth radiotransceiver in the PlayStation™ console 3, thereby enabling the user tospeak to others online wirelessly. The PlayStation™ console transmitsthe chat sound 4 from online players via Bluetooth to the headsetBluetooth radio 1 that then outputs this audio chat signal 4. ThePlayStation™ game sound 5 is connected to an external RF transmitter 6that wirelessly transmits the game sound to a radio receiver 7 in theheadset and handles the game sound signal 8. The game and chat signals 8and 4 are mixed or summed together in a circuit 12, then boosted in anamplifier 13 and sent to the headset speakers 9. Thus the headset 5provides wireless connectivity for the game sound 8, chat sound 4 andmicrophone sound 2 by its use of two radios 1 and 7, one of which usesthe Bluetooth standard.

A similar configuration can be implemented on an Xbox™ console 3′ asillustrated in FIG. 2 . As in the PlayStation™ example, the Xbox™ gamesound 8 is fed to an RF transmitter 6 and is wirelessly transmitted tothe headset game radio 7 to generate the headset game sound 8. The Xbox™3′, unlike the PlayStation™ 3 of FIG. 1 , does not use the Bluetoothprotocol for transmitting the microphone and chat sounds 2 and 4.Instead, the console 3′ transmits chat, voice and data to a wirelesscontroller 10 into which a set of wired headphones can be plugged. Inthis invention, a Bluetooth radio 11 connected to the controller 10transmits the chat signal 4 and receives the microphone signal 2 fromthe headset Bluetooth radio 1. As in the PlayStation™ example, the chatsignal 4 from the Bluetooth radio is summed at 12 with the game signal 8and the mixed signal is amplified at 13 and sent to the headset speakers9.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show an embodiment of the Bluetooth adapter 11 forthe Xbox™ controller 3′, using the same reference numerals as FIG. 2where appropriate. The adapter 11 is encased in a small housing with abutton 15 that pairs the device with the headset Bluetooth radio 1 whenpressed and held. After the unit is paired with the headset 5 andcommunication is established, the microphone feature may be muted byquickly pressing and releasing the button 15. Power for the device isconnected via two power pins 16 that draw power from the Xbox™controller 3′ when the device is mounted thereon. The microphone andchat signals 2 and 4 are connected via a 2.5 mm connector 17. The device11 is secured to the Xbox™ controller 3′ via its headset jack,integrating seamlessly with the controller design.

FIG. 4 illustrates another benefit of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 ,namely its ability to answer mobile phone calls while playing a game.Here, a mobile phone 18 is paired to the Bluetooth radio 1 in theheadset using a so-called “multipairing” protocol that enables more thanone Bluetooth device to be paired to the Bluetooth radio. When a phonecall occurs, the Bluetooth radio 1 in the headset 5 signals the user ofan incoming call via a tone on the chat sound 4. The user may thenactivate a switch 22 on the headset to answer the call, much in the samemanner in which a call is answered with a standard Bluetooth ear piececommonly used with mobile phones. In this scenario, however, the phoneconversation occurs within the headset during game play, mixed with thegame sound and replacing the chat. Thus, the user does not have to stopplaying the game in order to participate in the phone call. The voice ofthe caller replaces the voices of online players so the Bluetooth chatsignal 4 is summed with the game and routed to the headset speakers 9,allowing the user to accept a phone call while in the middle of playinga game. The microphone signal 2 is routed to the Bluetooth radio in theheadset and transmitted to the mobile phone 18 so the headset microphonemay be used to speak on the phone call. In addition the Bluetooth radio1 and the game RF receiver 7 are equipped with respective volumecontrols for balancing the two sound signals. Here also, dot-dash line23 represents an actual wired connection that could replace theBluetooth channel used for microphone and chat sound 2 and 4.

In this embodiment of the invention, the same Bluetooth radio 1 may alsobe used to play stereo audio from a device 19 equipped with theso-called A2DP protocol that is commonly used in for streaming audio viaBluetooth from music devices. When used in this manner, the chat sound 4is replaced with the stereo music from the Bluetooth audio device 19 andsummed with the game sound 8 so the user can hear the game and the musicsimultaneously.

Thus, it can be seen from the configuration in FIG. 4 that the inventionas the unique ability to provide a communication link to the gameconsole for online chat, a communication link to a mobile phone fortaking phone calls during a game, and a communication link to a wirelessA2DP audio device for listening to music during a game. All of this isaccomplished by virtue of adding the Bluetooth radio to the headset incombination to the game radio, as described herein.

What is claimed is: 1-7. (canceled)
 8. A system comprising: a gamecontroller operable to wirelessly receive a microphone output, whereinthe game controller is configured to be coupled to a gaming machine. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the game controller is operable totransmit the microphone output to the gaming machine.
 10. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the game controller is configured to be coupled to anadapter, and wherein the adapter comprises a receiver operable towirelessly receive the microphone output.
 11. The system of claim 8,wherein the game controller is configured to be coupled to an adapter,and wherein the adapter comprises a transmitter operable to wirelesslytransmit a chat signal to a headset.
 12. The system of claim 8, whereinthe game controller is configured to be coupled to an adapter, andwherein the adapter comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the system comprises a headset configured to wirelesslytransmit the microphone output.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein thesystem comprises a headset configured to wirelessly receive a chatsignal and a game sound, wherein the headset comprises a microphoneoperable to generate the microphone output.
 15. The system of claim 8,wherein the system comprises a headset configured to mix a game soundand a chat signal with the microphone output.
 16. The system of claim15, wherein the headset is configured to balance the game sound againstthe chat signal and the microphone output.
 17. The system of claim 8,wherein the wirelessly received microphone output is encoded by adigital protocol.
 18. A method comprising: coupling a game controller toa gaming machine; and wirelessly receiving a microphone output via thegame controller.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the methodcomprises: transmitting the microphone output from the game controllerto the gaming machine.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the methodcomprises: coupling the game controller to an adapter; and wirelesslycommunicating the microphone output between the game controller and theadapter.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the method comprises:coupling the game controller to an adapter; and wirelessly communicatinga chat signal between the adapter and a headset.
 22. The method of claim18, wherein the method comprises: coupling the game controller to anadapter, wherein the adapter comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.
 23. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the method comprises: transmitting themicrophone output from a headset.
 24. The method of claim 18, whereinthe method comprises: generating the microphone output in a headset; andwirelessly communicating a chat signal and a game sound to the headset.25. The method of claim 18, wherein the method comprises: mixing a gamesound and a chat signal with the microphone output.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, wherein the method comprises: balancing the game sound againstthe chat signal and the microphone output.
 27. The method of claim 18,wherein the method comprises: encoding the microphone output accordingto a digital protocol.